Electric switch.



J. H. RUSBY.

ELEGTRI SWITGH. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23,190;. 939983@ Patented Nov. 9, i909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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WHNESSES: m um, v MMM INVENUR ATTORNEY J. H. RUSBY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.23,1907.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

3 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

Fz'y Fiyi WITNESSES ATTORNEY J. H. RUSBY.`

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 23, 1907.

Patented. Nov. 9, 1909.

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INVENTOR Jose/MH ufgy VVHNESSES:

ATTORNEY @eases .Tessera H. anser, or NUTLEY, nav? JERSEY.

ELECTRC Sl/VTTCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ll, JOSEPH H. Roser, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nutley, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,lhave invented new and useful lmprovements in Electric Switches, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class ot electric switches. coming generally under the head of push button snap switches, though it is adapted to'other forms also as hereinafter described.

Figurel is a plan view of a switch embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows an armoring shell and contact pieces removed from the wall case. Fig. 3 shows a supporting plate for a contact piece. Fig. 3b shows a post and collar. Fig. 4C is an inside view ot' an `arrnoring shell. Fig. 5 is an end View ot Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section along am Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows the frame of Fig. 1 with switch parts taken out ot the armor-ing shell. Fig. 8 shows a lever piece With actuating connections. Fig. 9 shows stem guides. Fig. 10 is a section through the center` ot' the blade ulcrum. Fig. 11 shows a lug piece. Fig. 12 shows a spring actuated blade operating and supporting piece. Fig. 13 shows a spring actuating piece or lever piece. Fig. 14 shows a lugged latch piece. Fig. 15 shows an indicating sleeve surrounding a button stem. Fi 16 shows the invention applied to a so cal -ed endent switch. Fig. 17 is a view from tiie opposite side to that-exposed in Fig. 1G. Fig. 18 is a view like Fig. 17 with arts in section. Fig. 19 is an edge view of ig. 16. Fig. 20 shows a modification. Fig. 21 is an edge view of Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a view of the side opposite to that exposed in Fi 20. Fig. 23 shows a base portion connecte to a Wall case. Fig. 24 shows the top strap as being tapped to receive a screw tor fastening a cover plate. Fig. 25 shows a section of a sleeve surrounding ay push button.

In this drawing Fig. 2 the letter (L. indicates the base portion or bottom plate of a frame and b is a pivot or bolt which passing through holes b Figs. 11, 12 and 13 as presently seen forms a common swing center for parts of the device. Upon this center or fulcrum b swings a lever piece c Fig. 8 suitably operated as by buttons or a finger lever. This lever piece is shaped or has a cross arm extending between the ends or shanks of a Specification of "Letters Patent.

Application led February 23, 1967.

Patented Nov.. Q3., 519m).

Serial No. 358,879.

spring Z coiled about said center The shanks o'f the spring also engage a spring actuated piece c which may also be called a. blade carrier or blade actuating piece as it actuates the blades f which are snapped back and forth Yfor make and break.

A pivot is shown as g located eccentrically to the pivot Z) and on this pivot is hinged a latch piece it with a single lug a'. The pivots Z1, g are shown supported in a riser or frame piece extending from base a. The latch piece is operatively connected with the lever piece by a 'bar /c which may be also the shank of a button in case of a button switch.

The blades f are secured to the blade carrier e by studs m Which can pass through holes m and be of insulating material or insulated as required. ln Fig. 10 of the drawing the parts m are shown as insulating bushings secured on or surrounding metal studs fixed to the blade carrier c.

rThe blade carrier e is suitably lagged or has a lug piece n moving therewith. rllhe lugs atl the upper or free part of this lug piece Fig. 11 act invconjunction with lug i. As the lever piece swings one Way or another it carries with it one of the Shanks of the spring and the resulting tensionl exerted by the other spring shank tends to swing or snap the blade carrier. So long however as the lug n of the blade carrier is held by latch lug z' the blade carrier With its blades can not move but as the latchpiece h or its lug i is moved out of the Way the lug n with its accompanying blade carrier and blades are freed to snap for a make or break.

The lever piece can be swung in various Ways. either by buttons or by a linger lever or other appliance.

In Fig. 1 the lever piece is actuated by buttons o and in Figs. 16 and 20 by a finger piece or arm 0. The button of Fig. 1 can be ot any kind. rFhose shown in Fig. 1 are adapted for actuation by a key. These buttons are contained in caps or sleeves p in which the buttons have a certain longitudinal play. As a key is inserted into a key hole slot in a Cap and presses ony a projection or button o it moves the latter and its 'stem or pushing bar a certain distance until this button striklng a shoulder or inwardly extending lu on the sleeve piece p carries the latter with 1t.

Each cap or sleeve is limited in its movement by having a lug g Fig. 15 bent out to enter a slot 7' Fig. 9 in a riser or plate s. A spring 2 braced at or coiled about a suitable point 3 has each of its ends extending through an opening 2a in a lug 2b of a cap piece p and these ends or spring shanks tend to close or the tension or pressure of each end is toward the top strap 4. Such spring thus tends to slide or raise its cap piece to the upper stop point or upper boundary of the respective slot in plate s.

The stems of the buttons connect directly with the lever piece and one of the stems is also engages the latch piece h as already noted.

In Figs. 16 to 22 the finger button 0 or its stem is rigidly connected to or forms part of the lever piece c so that the latter can be swung back and forth as the button 0 is swung.

The buttons or their caps in Figs. 1 and 2 are guided by a strap or straps 4 supported on main supporting posts 5 which can be dismounted on removing their attaching screws G and unsciewing the posts from plate il. The strap el may extend unbrokenly from end t0 end of the switch or the' center portion of the strap may be cut away in certain forms of the switch to have only the ends of the strap remaining secured on the posts. The straps 4; also serve as bearings for one end of screws 7 the other e'nds of which are rotatively supported in lugs 11 on armoring shell 12 and lugs 11a on the base plate cz. These screws 7 are threaded and are provided near their heads with flanges 7a. rThey are also of reduced diameter near their ends to form shoulders. The threaded portions of the screws 7 slip freely through the forward lugs 11 of the shell 12 and engage switch supporting lugs 10, and the reduced portions of said screws slip freely through the rear lugs 11 of the shell 127 the lug 11n of the base or bottom plate a, and the lug 8 of the wall case 9. The flanges 7a of the screws 7 are thus arranged between the forward lugs 11 of the shell 12 and the strap 4 and the shouldered portions of said screws bear against the rear lugs 11 of the shell 12, so that by turning the screws the switch can be leveled or adjusted. The screws 7 also by passing through the lugs 11 of shell sections 12 secure the shell parts together or hold these sections clasped about the contained switch parts. The shell being in two parts or halves and the respective lugs being at different levels, the lugs of one section will overlie the opposite lugs, as seen in Figs. 27 4 and 5. The stem or screw 7 extending through suclroverlapping lugs, Fig. 2, will hold the lugs or their shell sections together.

The posts 5 are suitably shouldered to support and carry the plates 16 Figs. 3 and 3a supporting the contact pieces 14 Fig. 4 with which the blades f Contact to close the circuit. As the screws 7 are taken out of the lugs 11 the shell sections come apart and can be removed. The blades f as seen in Fig. 2 are arched or extended upwardly s0 that as they snap or swing back and forth the contact ends of the blades do not extend below the line of pivot Z). The blades f may be split or double and the blades are connected to the blade carriers by the connections m consisting of shouldered metal studs with shouldered insulating bushings or spools thereabout and insulating and securing washers. The blades as seen in Fig. 10 can be split and the contact pieces made solid or Vice versa. The lugs 11a have also tapped holes for the reception or support of screws 15 engaging the lugs 8 of wall case 9 to connect these parts together. These screws as seen in Figs. 9 and 23 have the portion of their stems immediately under the head reduced in diameter so that when the/ threaded part of the screw has passed through lug 11a and has threaded into lug 8 on the wall case the screw now taining freely in lug 11a grips or drags lug 8 to such lug 11a thus mounting the wall case on the switch. A

rlhe armoring shell may be lined with insulation in any desired form such as for instance porcelain enamel, sheet mica, fiber, etc. f

The contact pieces 14: which may be in sections while mounted upon supporting plate 16 are insulated therefrom as for instance by interposed sheets of insulating material between the contact piece sections and the supporting plate.

.it is observable that by my method of construction I secure several very desirable improvements over the art as at present known. l get my common swing center very low down or near a wall in the switch and all my operating parts above or to one side of it. l get my blade fulcrum low down, my contact high up, thus providing an ample length of blade between for obtaining the required spring distance of blade for necessary flexibility to etiect a free contact friction without increasing the operating force of the device and without having to extend my containing case to excessive depth. Also by the elimination of porcelain or an insulating supporting block as at present employed, and the substitution of metal insulated wall I eliminate the thickness o f end wall necessary for mechanical strength and the prevention of cracking by electrical heat unevenly applied as for instance in case of an arcing where porcelain or fragile material is employed and I also secure the necessary swing room for an upwardly extending blade.

in addition to the foregoing most important improvements l secure the following: The swing center being low down and the contacts high up, it follows that l can secure the requisite break gap between the contact and blade, on far less degrees of a esaeea circle throw. rThe leverage may be int sired to move creased without increasing the distance between the push button centers. yEhe top straps or plates 4 which are mounted upon 'the main supporting posts 5 which posts serve also as a support for contact bearing plates, also serve as a support. for the cover plate securing screws as known in the trade. The taps for the cover plate attaching screws are not shown, as they can be applied at any suitable point along strap it, as for example between the points 5 and 7 (Fig. 2) or between the points 79 p in the center of strap t if the latter extends entirely along the shell and but one screw for securing the cover plate is employed. In plain push button type this top strap may be cut away except at ends leaving two small end sections, the button supporting parts not being then needed. rlhe armor-ing shell in addition to supporting or assisting in supporting the contact supporting plate or plates 16 also serves to support the lug telescoping screws and also as a support for the shouldered screw 15 at each end at bettom employed for securing the' Vall case to the switch for the purpose of adjustment integral with switch.

The casing 9 is supplied to comply with the demand of underwriters prescribing a tire proof shell for electric wiring to a switch. The wall switch illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, is assembled as follows: The switch mechanism is assembled and secured to the base plate u. The screws 7 are then inserted through the forward lugs 11 of the shell 12 and screwed through the threaded openings of the supporting lugs 10. They then pass through the openings of the rear lugs 11 of the shell 12 until their tianges 7a abut against the forward lugs 11 of the shell 12 and the shouldered portions 'of said screws abut against the rear lugs 11 of said shell. The

screw-threaded ends of the posts 5 are then screwed into the strap 4t and the strap applied on the front of the shell to bring the heads of the screws 7 directly behind the openings in said strap. The free ends of the screws 7 are then inserted in the lugs` 11EL of the back or base plate a` and the screws inserted through the openings in said back or base plate r1, and screwed into the free ends of the posts 5. The shell 1Q is then inserted in the wall caseI t), and the free ends of the screws 7 pass through openings in the lugs 8 of said wall case. The screws 15 are then inserted through openings in the lugs 11a of the base or bottom plate a and engage threaded openings in the lugs 8 of the wall case, which secures the shell 12 in said wall case, and the wall case placed in position in a vpocket formed in the wall. The supporting lugs are then secured to the wallby driving screws or nails through the slots thereof into the Wall. When it is dethe shell and wall case farther into the wall the screws 7 are screwed in, which causes the flanges 7a to bear upon the forward lugs 11, and the shoulders near the ends of said screws to bear upon the rear lugs 11 of the shell. When it is desired to move the shell and wall case 12 outwardly the screws 7 are unscrewed. rlhis causes the fianges 7a of the screws 7 to bear against the inner side ot' the strap 4t which draws the wall case and shell away from the wall. At this time the supporting lugs 10 enter suitable slots in the wall case 12.

that l claim is- 1. An electric switch comprising a support, an actuating finger piece, a one piece lever on the support engaged directly by the finger piece, said lever having an integral arm, a spring mounted concentrically with said lever and engaged by said arm, a latch piece hinged eccentrically to said lever piece and having a single lug and being operatively connected with said lever, and a blade actuating piece mounted concentrically with said lever, and having an extension engaged by the spring, Ysaid actuating piece being .lugged to coact with the latch piece lug.

2. An electric switch comprising a base, contacts, a blade, a blade actuating mechanism, said mechanism comprising push buttons, sleeves about the buttons, a frame, Y

and an outwardly bearing spring mounted on the frame and connected to the sleeves to torce the latter' toward the face of the switch, said frame having guiding slots for the sleeves, and said sleeves having lugs reciprocating in said slots.

3. An electric switch comprising a base, contacts; a blade, a blade actuating mechanism, said mechanism comprising a frame, a spring, push bars with heads forming buttons, and tubes engaged by the spring and forming surrounding sleeves for the buttons and bars, each of said tubes having a closed top pierced for the entry of a key and having an upper lug to be engaged vby the button head, each tube also having a lower'A lug and said frame having slots for guiding and arresting the said lower lugs.

L1. An electric switch comprising a base, contacts, a blade, a bladeactuating mechanism, a top strap, apush button guided by the top strap, said top strap being suitably tapped for securing a cover plate and being extended beyond the switch and an adj-usting screw .rotatively supported at one end in the extended portion of the top strap, 'said base having a lug for supporting the opposite end of said adjusting screw.

5. An electrical switch comprising a blade actuating mechanism, a blade, contacts, an adjusting screw, an adjusting lug on the ad j listing screw, and a base, said base comprising a bottom section and two side and end with outwardiy extending lugs, the lugs on the sideand end sections provided with holes, the said adjusting screw extending through said holes for securing the said side and end sections together, the said lugs on thefsaid side and end sections recprocally serving to support said adjusting screw.

6. An electric switch, comprising an armoring' shell provided with forward and rear lugs, a top strap, switch supporting lugs, and a screw, said screw having a Bange near its head, said screw engaging the supsenese porting lug and extending through the top strap and the forward and rear lugs and having its iange arranged between the top l5 strap and the forward lug. l

tn testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'Josnrrr n. anser.

Witnesscs EDWARD wi/VIESNER, CHRISTIAN ALMSTEAD. 

